biostudies-literatureUnknown8(5)Ravaux JThe thermal limit for metazoan life, expected to be around 50°C, has been debated since the discovery of the Pompeii worm Alvinella pompejana, which colonizes black smoker chimney walls at deep-sea vents. While indirect evidence predicts body temperatures lower than 50°C, repeated in situ temperature measurements depict an animal thriving at temperatures of 60°C and more. This controversy was to remain as long as this species escaped in vivo investigations, due to irremediable mortalities upon non-isobaric sampling. Here we report from the first heat-exposure experiments with live A. pompejana, following isobaric sampling and subsequent transfer in a laboratory pressurized aquarium. A prolonged (2 hours) exposure in the 50-55°C range was lethal, inducing severe tissue damages, cell mortaliPloS onee64074https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3667023biostudies-literatureThermal limit for metazoan life in question: in vivo heat tolerance of the Pompeii worm.PMC3667023Shillito BRavaux JHamel GLeger NJollivet DTasiemski AAZbinden MTanguy ABoutet IfalseThermal limit for metazoan life in question: in vivo heat tolerance of the Pompeii worm.The thermal limit for metazoan life, expected to be around 50°C, has been debated since the discovery of the Pompeii worm Alvinella pompejana, which colonizes black smoker chimney walls at deep-sea vents. While indirect evidence predicts body temperatures lower than 50°C, repeated in situ temperature measurements depict an animal thriving at temperatures of 60°C and more. This controversy was to remain as long as this species escaped in vivo investigations, due to irremediable mortalities upon non-isobaric sampling. Here we report from the first heat-exposure experiments with live A. pompejana, following isobaric sampling and subsequent transfer in a laboratory pressurized aquarium. A prolonged (2 hours) exposure in the 50-55°C range was lethal, inducing severe tissue damages, cell mortali2013-01-01T00:00:00Z20132025-04-18T17:48:43.723Z2019-03-26T23:14:33ZS-EPMC36670232373418510.1371/journal.pone.0064074